It was on the third
morning after they sailed, that Vanslyperken walked the deck: there was
no one but the man at the helm abaft. The weather was extremely sultry,
for the cutter had run with a fair wind for the first eight-and-forty
hours, and had then been becalmed for the last twenty-four, and had
drifted to the back of the Isle of Wight, when she was not three leagues
from St Helen's. The consequence was, that the ebb-tide had now drifted
her down very nearly opposite to that part of the island where the cave
was situated of which we have made mention. Vanslyperken heard the
people talking below, and, as usual, anxious to overhear what was said,
had stopped to listen. He heard the name of Smallbones repeated several
times, but could not make out what was said.
Anxious to know, he went down the ladder, and, instead of going into his
cabin, crept softly forward on the lower deck, when he overheard Coble,
Short, and Spurey in consultation.
"We shall be in to-morrow," said Spurey, "if a breeze springs up, and
then it will be too late: Smallbones must frighten him again to-night."
"Yes," replied Short.
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